# Fresh vs. Frozen **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 22, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fresh-vs-frozen/176911 "2003-05-22T22:37:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dandylion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Dandylion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandylion)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fresh-vs-frozen/176911/1 "2003-05-22T22:37:22Z")
I’m sure somewhere here in the Straight Dope this question has been addressed: Is there a difference between freash and frozen vegetables? By this I mean to they taste drasically different and is the nutritional value effected. I was told by my grandmother that frozen veggies are best because they are frozen right from the field, while “fresh” veggies could be a week to 10 days old. My spouse thinks that unfrozen vegetables are the best. ---
**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fresh-vs-frozen/176911/2 "2003-05-22T22:45:21Z")
During the freezing process, ice crystals form, which destroy cells and change the texture of the food. I doubt this affects nutritional value, but it certainly does make them taste different. ---
**Author:** ![Sionach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Sionach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sionach)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fresh-vs-frozen/176911/3 "2003-05-22T23:02:31Z")
Taste is different if you have a sensitive palette (fresh vegetables have a, well, “fresh” taste to them), and as Alereone mentioned, texture is definitely different (frozen fruits & vegetables will tend to have a more soggy consistency when thawed / cooked). There generally isn’t any real difference in nutritional value ([cite](http://www.stayinginshape.com/3osfcorp/libv/p19.shtml)), so the difference is mainly an aesthetic one. Your grandmother was right though; “fresh” produce sometimes isn’t so fresh and may have a lower nutritional value if it’s been around a while.